Process for the production of a metal oxide powder having a BET surface area of at least 20 m.sup.2/g by reacting an aerosol with oxygen in a reaction space at a reaction temperature of more than 700.degree. C. and then separating the resulting powder from gaseous substances in the reaction space, wherein the aerosol is obtained by atomisation using a multi-component nozzle of at least one starting material, as such in liquid form or in solution, and at least one atomising gas, the volume-related mean drop diameter D.sub.30 of the aerosol is from 30 to 100 .mu.m and the number of aerosol drops larger than 100 .mu.m is up to 10%, based on the total number of drops, and metal oxide powder obtainable by this process.